It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Archbishop Noel Treanor, apostolic nuncio to the European Union.
Our paths first crossed in Brussels in 1989. Noel was appointed to work with the secretariat of COMECE, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union. I was a newly elected MEP for Munster.
He called around to my office to introduce himself, both of us in our thirties, he a short few years older than me. Noel had a warm, open, likeable personality and we hit it off. Occasionally we shared lunch or dinner. From time to time, with other MEPs, Noel would invite me around to his office to learn of his latest initiatives or to address some group of invitees.
Four years after his arrival in Brussels Noel was appointed as secretary general of COMECE, a well-deserved and earned recognition of his intellect, skills and energy.
Though I had left the European Parliament by the time of his return to Ireland I was pleased to attend his going away dinner in Brussels, a celebration of Europe in so much of its cultural and linguistic diversity, and a glimpse of the extensive network of friendships that Noel had built up over the years.
In June 2008 it was a source of great pleasure to attend Noel’s consecration as Bishop of Down and Connor in Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast. Some years later I had the opportunity to visit him at home on Somerton Road for lunch, the beneficiary of his warm and generous hospitality.
Noel, a proud Irishman, was a truly Irish European. Fluent in French, German, Italian and Spanish, he also was a truly European Irishman
— Pat Cox
Most of all I valued Noel’s insights and opinions on a wide range of issues and his deep understanding of and network across the entire European Union.
All of our most recent contacts were on shared flights to or from Brussels. On arrival the first to disembark would wait for the other for a chat. Noel roped me in to address a Vatican Conference in October 2017 marking the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, where a minor role first suggested transformed unexpectedly and unsought into a keynote address, I suspect, with a bit of behind the scenes manoeuvring by Noel.
Our last encounter as with so many others was in Brussels airport this year, in the early summer. Noel, now Archbishop and apostolic nuncio to the EU, offered me a lift to my hotel, in the ‘house car’, the modest vehicle of preference he used, except when he was on official diplomatic business.
I took note of his new telephone number and we agreed to meet for dinner in the autumn. His date with destiny means our dinner date was not to be. May this special friend and good and decent man rest in peace.
